Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday proposed a 10-year tax break for hospitals outside Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Chittagong that meet certain conditions.
The tax exemption would help incentivize the private sector to open more hospitals outside of the four major districts, the minister said in his budget speech for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
“The government is sincerely promise-bound to ensure standard health care facilities at an affordable cost for each and every citizen of the country with a view to achieving the sustainable development goals…However, the role of the private entrepreneurs in this sector is extremely city-centric,” the finance minister said.
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“To make standard health services provided by private initiatives available in districts other than Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Chittagong, I propose to offer tax incentive to the health sector,” he added.
General hospitals must have a minimum capacity of 250 beds as well as child and infant care, women and maternal care, oncology, wellbeing and preventive medicine units to qualify for the 10-year tax exemption, while specialized hospitals must have a minimum capacity of 200 beds to qualify, the minister further said.
He also mentioned that the government has improved the accessibility of health services by establishing community clinics in every ward.
